South Delridge’s quiet corner at 16th Avenue SW, left in limbo since the Walgreens shut its doors, just got a serious upgrade: a taco truck and a reason to swing by for lunch again. El Gran Taco has pulled into the former Walgreens parking lot and the owners say they plan to serve Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., giving the neighborhood a steady lunch-and-dinner option where there has recently been nothing but empty asphalt.
According to West Seattle Blog, this is El Gran Taco’s second day operating at the ex‑Walgreens lot, and the truck is an offshoot of their brick‑and‑mortar restaurant in White Center at 10230 16th Ave SW. So if the food looks familiar to locals, that is no coincidence.
Owner, sale and lease plans
The 53,000‑square‑foot property changed hands in early February, when Team Amalfi LLC, whose principals include broker‑developer James Tjoa, bought the site in a deal reported at about $2.4 million, as noted by the Daily Journal of Commerce. A commercial listing now shows the building’s space up for lease and lists Tjoa as the contact, a clear sign the new owner is actively looking for tenants; the full listing is on LoopNet.
Short‑term activation strategy
A spokesperson for the owner told West Seattle Blog that Team Amalfi’s priority is to land at least one new tenant for the building, and that tearing it down “wouldn't make sense” for roughly the next 10 years. In the meantime, the plan is to bring in a rotating lineup of food trucks to “activate” the property and lure some badly needed foot traffic back to the block.
What to expect
El Gran Taco’s website lists its White Center restaurant at 10230 16th Ave SW and highlights both catering and truck service across Seattle. For now, neighbors can expect to see the truck parked in the old Walgreens lot during midday and evening hours, with the possibility of additional vendors joining in as the owner tests out the rotating‑truck concept.
